Should I go to this college in 2010?

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Okay guys, I previously started another topic here before regarding my college choice. I checked out on info on these colleges and they are pretty good colleges. But I was still searching for a college, I came a particular one which I'm really diggin' right now. So I think I've have decision on my college choice. The college is the University of California Berkeley (just call it Berkeley for short). But I'm unsure as to whether this a good or bad college choice for an Aspie like myself. So what do you guys think? So I should I go to this college or not? And if no, do you have any suggestions you wish to share to me? I'm still open to suggestions and I'm all ears.

If you get the opportunity go..... even if it turns out to be a disaster at least you tried.

You sound like something bad's gonna happen to me. Why?

Berkeley's a very high-rated school, so if money isn't an issue for you, it would be a good place to look into. They're especially big on engineering. 3 of my grandpa's relatives actually got their engineering degrees there, and I think one of them taught there a long time ago... I don't know what you're planning to study, but even if it isn't engineering, they probably still have a good program for it.

What do you mean by "high-rated"? I don't understand US currency very well. Is it expensive for the typical poor American who is atleast stable enough for even college? I thought I could apply for Financial Aid since UC Berkeley offers scholarships and Financial Aid? And I'm hoping to apply for Filming there since they have it there aswell, and better yet, Filming as a MAJOR (Yay for me!). Please don't be offended as to why I'm speaking like this. I'm only asking because I'm just simply curious.

Hi. If you really want to go to Berkeley, apply. School "Rating" or "Ranking" usually refers to lists generated by various entities that are based on prestige, placement rates, alumni opinions, and the amount of research money the school generates. Some of the rankings are done pretty much impartially by magazines (The USNews rankings of programs is a generally accepted rating) and some are highly subjective, done by faculty at various schools - what they think of each other. Regardless of what you see on a ranking list, it's possible that a middle-ranked undergraduate institution could have an absolutely stellar major in one field, and that a very highly ranked university could have a really poor major. I'd pay more attention to the major itself first, and then look for highly ranked schools who have good reputations in the major. Be aware that if you want to go to grad schools, some grad school programs won't even look at your application unless you got your undergraduate degree from an institution that they think appropriate - you're not likely to get into, say, a top-ranked PhD program in some fields at the better schools with an undergraduate degree from a small, state-supported regional university even if you have the appropriate undergraduate degree. And placement rates for people coming out of the top schools really are better - in quantity and quality - than from the lower ranked ones. Where you eventually find employment can be dependent on where you got your PhD. Do your homework before applying.

If you are from out of the country, your tuition and fees will be quite high (compared to a resident) at UCB and they'll love to have you, as you are a revenue generator. You'll need to pass the TOEFL test with the appropriate scores, showing you can speak English well enough to do the coursework. As far as I know, you will not be able to access much in financial aid if you are not a citizen of the USA. The aid is designed for them - mostly in the form of loans, some grants, and some piecemeal other programs. Lower-income families are eligible for federal subsidies (Pell grants). I think the maximum Pell grant is now around $4,800, and it is based on financial need. Non-citizens are not eligible for Pell grants. Citizens are also eligible for work programs for up to about 15 hours per week, but the awards are based on family resources and just getting permission for an award does not mean there is a job available on campus. The pay rate is usually a bit higher than minimum wage. I believe non-citizens are also not eligible for federally subsidized student loans.

NOTE: Also, if you are not a citizen, be aware the the federal immigration people require that you be able to prove that you have substantial funds available for your living expenses. I ~think~ this is about $49,000 for the 2009/10 academic year. Otherwise the Feds will not give you a visa. If your government is going to pay for your expenses, a whole different set of rules applies. Check with them. There are very few financial aid resources available to undergrads in the UC system if they are not citizens - note that I said at the undergraduate level. Once you hit the graduate school level, things are completely different. There are no Pell grants, no work study, but there are other generous incentives and being a foreign student may be considered a good point on your application. It depends on the major and the school.

The following applies more if you are a citizen: Just so you know, though, right now both the UC system and the Cal State system are hurting badly for money. Cal State has just yesterday announced that they are accepting no new transfer students for the second semester of the 2009/10 school year (that is, January 2010). There is talk that they may not accept any transfer students at all in the Fall of the following year, and there are rumors (that I cannot substantiate) that they may not accept ANY new students in the Fall of the 2010/11 school year, basically sending the school forward without a freshman class that year, if things do not improve. Fewer students = less funding from the state = fewer classes offered.

As far as the UC system (where Berkeley is) is going, there will be a substantial fee increase (I'm thinking in the realm of 10%) to students in the very near future. Residents do not pay tuition charges, only the fees, so if you're in-state, you should plan for this. I would not be surprised to see another fee hike in a few months. Financial Aid in the form of federal Pell grants is available. Cal Grants, which typically go to lower-income ($68,000 total income for a family of 2, I think, with a maximum of about $9,000 per grant, based on a sliding scale of need v. resources) students are probably not going to be available due to the current budget problems. I have strong doubts that they will be available next year (2010/11) as well. Most state aid is suspended at present (I think - if not, it will be very shortly). Students who are currently getting state (California) aid checks are about to receive IOUs instead of checks. (The banks will not cash these - recipients will have to hold onto them until October, when the government will pay for them, or sell them on the black market for less than face value.)

On the good side, student loans, which are federally subsidized (unless you get a private one from a bank, which I strongly urge you do not do) are still available. With a major in film, I would strongly, STRONGLY urge you to not borrow heavily to get your degree. The market for those graduates has been saturated for years. It would be highly unlikely that you could make enough of a living to pay back much in the way of student loans.

On Berkeley - it has been dealing with numerous budgetary cuts for the last year. They, as do most of the UC schools, have been allowing more students in than the state actually reimburses them for, so they've been having to absorb the cost of those unfunded students. It's my understanding that they've had no option other than to stop this practice, so getting admitted might be a bit more difficult. Also, because of the economy, a number of people who were not previously in school are trying to get back into it to get training. The community colleges are swamped, and the Cal State and UC system have no means to handle the overflow - no space, no funding. Cal State employees have been dealing with unpaid furloughs for a while now. The UC President has announced, in the last two weeks, that a salary cut/furlough program is about to be instituted for all UC employees due to the lack of funding for salaries. Given that, I would expect that other internal sources of funds for support programs - disability, upward-bound, tutoring, etc. - is going to be slashed if it has not already. So, there will be fewer spaces, more competition, less support, and it's going to cost you more if you do get in. Be prepared.

Bottom line - if you are highly qualified, have good test scores, have a very good application that somehow puts you head-and-shoulders above all the other thousands of people who are highly qualified and have good test scores, by all means continue to hope for a space at UCB. If you do not have really good grades and test scores, and are not "special" in some way - overcoming significant adversity, an olympic athlete, etc. - I'd have to say to go for it, but to not pin all your hopes on getting a spot there. Also be aware that when you apply you apply to the UC system, you select your target school and list the other schools in it you would like to attend. If you don't get a spot at UCB, you might be offered one at, say, Merced or Davis. Check the admissions web page at UCB for more information on how that works. I believe you're asked to rank your preferences in the order of where you'd want to attend. What you get depends on space available. (And assumes that you do get in at all.)

Here is a link to the UCB financial aid page. http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid Total estimated cost for an undergraduate living on campus is just about $30,000 a year (for a resident). If you plan to live off-campus, they estimate you'll need to budget about $46,000 a year, unless you are living with relatives.

I don't want to completely discourage you, but this might be a time to seriously think about your major. The days of just going to a university to study something you like, but can't make a living at, are gone - unless you have enough financial resources to do this and don't need to think about how to make a living. Look at the placement rates for various majors (most university career centers/placement offices have those statistics) and how much salary those who are working in your chosen field make on employment. That way you won't be in for a horrible shock when you graduate. If it's important enough to you to study a particular subject without regard to costs and outcomes, and you can do it, by all means go for it. Just be sure you know what the options you'll have on graduation will be.

Good luck, really! Hopefully conditions will improve in a few years.

From what I know, only UCLA and USC are better in film...

And no, high-rated means that the school is prestigious in academia, so it would be extra hard for ordinary guys to get there. And as a Singaporean, I can tell you straight that Berkeley is so selective, they can only accept a handful of students from even RI and HCI, the luminary high schools in Singapore. Even I, a student in some other JC, dare not apply to the school...

Money may not be a problem, getting there is the bigger issue. Plus, Berkeley isn't good in film... Try USC and UCLA if you really want to 'make it'.

Oh yes, just to tell you what happened to me today.

I tried to fill up the application form of the University of Michigan, as I saw an empty unfilled form laying around the library.

As a conscious student, I tried to read through everything first before I do anything. I breezed through the first few pages and found them relatively easy... I was thinking, maybe I can try out Philosophy when I get there. Then I figured out that I will ace my essays, the topics look quite general and I am able to do them.

But when it comes to the seventh and eighth sections, about the recommendation letters from my counsellor and my teacher, I began to break down. UM-Ann Arbor needs a rigourous academic programme from me, plus involvement in multiple activities that show my leadership potential. I tried them all in school, but it seems that I do not receive enough support from my peers, which would put me in a disadvantage when I apply to UM --- even if I declare that I am autistic. And the school I went to just refuses to let me take H3 even though I am eligible for it. (You'll know when you get into a JC) Without enough strong evidence to show my (limited) leadership skills, community involvement as well as actual competencies in writing (I don't join competitions in the past due to stress plus pure anger outbursts) how can UM actually ever CONSIDER me? Oh, let alone Harvard. And I did not do KI. And with so many Type A personalities there, I may falther and from my experiences whilst interacting with the best honour students... I know I just want to relax deep in my heart and do my own thing.

So... I decided to return the form while sobbing...

I hope you will understand your limitations, if you have any of them, like a lack of social skills or academic/extracurricular achievements (which I hope you don't). I guess I will have to go to Australian or Singaporean universities whenever possible, because they are mostly merit-based, and I still have a chance to get into universities in these countries.

In the end, I also thought 'where will I head if I were an American'? The answer:

If I were an American, I would definitely head to some ordinary state school or community college.

If I were a Californian, I would either go to San Jose State University doing library science or California State University Long Beach's geography programme. Not University of California, not even one of a campus there where I have absolutely no interest in anything (incurring the wrath of dad and mom?)

If I were a New Yorker, I may just end up in SUNY Buffalo, or some CUNY college...

If I were a Floridan, maybe I will head to Central Florida, or Broward College (if I live in Miami)...

Sigh.